With all the talk about super hero movies and such, I thought it important to point out that young kids and family friendly flicks for kids of all ages have not been forgotten. In fact, there are three animated movies coming up in the next couple of months -- two sequels and a brand new original animated adventure.

First up, Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, opening in theaters on June 8th. This movie is the third theatrical release starring our favorite friends from the NY zoo, but there was also the direct-to-DVD holiday special "Merry Madagascar" that our family really enjoyed. In Europe's Most Wanted, Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo, and Melman the Giraffe are still fighting to get home to their beloved Big Apple and of course, King Julien, Maurice and the Penguins are all along for the comedic adventure. Their journey takes them through Europe where they find the perfect cover: a traveling circus which they reinvent Madagascar style. (Photo © DreamWorks Animation).

Next, on June 22, experience a brand new adventure from Pixar called Brave. In Brave, Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land. Her choice ends up taking her on a journey that is perilous, mysterious and enlightening.  (Photo © Disney/Pixar).

And on July 3, 2012, our prehistoric pals are back in a fourth movie! Ice Age: Continental Drift finds Manny, Diego, Sid and friends in a pickle when Scrat's relentless pursuit of his acorn results in a cataclysmic catastrophe. You know, despite the fact that we liked each Ice Age movie, each time I felt there was really no need for another. However, the franchise has proven resilient, bringing fun new characters with each new film that managed to keep things interesting and funny. So, even though a fourth film seems excessive for any popular movie, I have high hopes for this one. (Photo © 20th Century Fox).

I'm looking forward to seeing all three of these animated movies with the kiddos. And, since school is out, I hope to use all three as fun themes for some summer learning and artistic expression as well. I'll have more details on fun crafts, activities and curriculum ideas for each movie coming soon, but for now, how about celebrating Europe's Most Wanted by making your own family circus. Here is a recipe for homemade face paint from our family crafts guide.

Follow Kids TV & Movies - Twitter | Facebook

(Photos © The Walt Disney Family Museum)

One thing I love about Mother's Day -- peace and quiet. Other than using the phones to snap a few pics of the girls attempting to teach their uncle some power yoga, the electronics were generally shut down, and the kids spent the day creating pictures and cards and spending time with family.

As good as it is for mommy to have days like this, it's also great for kids. We try to have an unplugged day once a week, but the older the kids get, the more challenging that will become. And today I realized that it's not just screens that keep us from connecting, it's just plain old busyness. I've always thought it's great that we keep busy, because our kids don't have a lot of time to spend on things like watching TV or playing too many video games, so it's really not a problem for us. But there's a lot more to it than that.

And so I write about days like today, so that I don't forget how important it is to slow down and live instead of rushing through life and living vicariously through movies or games during those precious few moments when there is nothing else to do.  It's funny how randomly the desire to evaluate our lives and our decisions can hit. Playing a game of Uno and laughing at an impromptu family yoga class taught by a 9-year-old can really give one reason to think, right?

Here is a list of questions I was inspired to ask myself while pondering on a wonderful day:

• How can I simplify our lives so that there is more time to just enjoy being together as a family?
• What memories do we hope to build over the next few months and years and how can I work those things into our schedules?
• Am I teaching my kids to be creators instead of consumers, to enjoy life simply, to be satisfied and grateful for what we have?
• How can I better teach them self discipline, work ethic and time management?
• Are we using our time wisely? Where do we need to improve?

Of course, a list of introspective questions on how well I'm doing as a mother could go on and on. But for today, just because, I want to commit refining these questions and coming up with some answers about how we spend our time and how to make better use of it. Because if there's one thing I've learned from being a mom, it's that time goes by way too fast.

Among the amazing tourist attractions the San Francisco area has to offer, there is one gem that might get overlooked when you are making vacation plans. In fact, our family lived in the area for five months once while my husband was on a consulting project, and not one of our weekend adventures took us to the Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio of San Francisco. We just didn't know to go there. While I was recently in San Francisco visiting Pixar Studios to learn more about the upcoming movie Brave, however, Disney treated us to a trip to the museum. Not only do I wish we would have gone as a family, but also, I left the museum convinced that a study of the life of Walt Disney should be a mandatory part my kids' curriculum.

Here are three reasons why you should not miss the Walt Disney Family Museum:

1. History: In following the life of the famous Walt Disney, the museum covers a wealth of filmmaking history. Of course,  it's fascinating to see how animation developed over the years, especially for Disney fans or those interested in the art of filmmaking. But, did you know you can also listen to Walt Disney's testimony to the House on Un American Activities (HUAC), where he testified that communist agitators incited the famous strike at his company? The historical aspects of the museum often go beyond just films and allow visitors interesting glimpses into the past.




2. Interactivity: The museum houses ten widely different and beautiful interactive galleries, and another focal point is a glass-walled back exterior that frames a spectacular view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Families can really experience hands-on the history of animation through listening stations, fantastic interactive tables, and more. All of this interactivity helps kids learn and stay interested, but with state-of-the-art technology and relevant applications, it's fun for adults as well.




3. Inspiration: As cool as the history and advancement of filmmaking is, and as awesome as the museum's galleries and interactive features are, what I loved the most about the museum is the story it tells. How did one man, Walt Disney, possess such endless ingenuity? How can one person accomplish so much in one lifetime? His optimistic and relentless pursuit of his dreams is truly inspiring. Also inspiring, is the way he seemed to acknowledge and involve his wife in his life's work. The Walt Disney Family Museum conveys the idea that with hard work and passion, dreams really can come true.

To find out more about the museum or purchase tickets, visit the Walt Disney Family Museum website.

Follow Kids TV & Movies - Twitter | Facebook

(Photos © The Walt Disney Family Museum)

Loki is the resident evildoer intent on ruling over the inhabitants of earth in the movie Marvel's The Avengers. Actor Tom Hiddleston, an all around nice guy who is best known for playing more upstanding characters, talked with us just before the movie played at the Tribeca Film Festival. His nice guy mentality came out when he gave us a sympathetic description of Loki and the heartbreak that drives him to make some rather bad choices.

"I hope that anyone who has seen Thor can recognize [Loki]," Tom said, "and there is still this spiritual damage at the heart of him, underneath his anarchy and his chaos and his anger and destructiveness. There is still a vulnerability there."

If you have older kids who will be going with you to see the movie, this is a great discussion point to bring up. What drives a villain to become a villain? And in real life, what causes "bad" people to become the way they are? Even in our own lives, we often justify poor choices or poor treatment of others with things that have happened in the past. Pointing out these tenancies in an overblown comic book movie character can be a fun way to discuss real life behavioral tenancies.

READ MORE about Loki and Tom Hiddleston's analysis of the Marvel character you love to hate...

*Marvel's The Avengers is rated PG-13, for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout, and a mild drug reference. Read our review for parents for more info on the movie's content.

Follow Kids TV & Movies - Twitter | Facebook

(Photo © Marvel Studios)